Stride and knead massager

ABSTRACT

A pair of axially spaced kneading wheels are rotatably attached to one end of a frame which has a handle projecting from its other end. Each of the kneading wheels has a plurality of semispherically shaped kneading projections thereon which are spaced far enough apart from each other to avoid stretching a person&#39;&#39;s skin when the kneading wheels stride over a portion of the person&#39;&#39;s skin to massage the tissues below the skin. The kneading wheels are also axially spaced far enough apart from each other on the frame to avoid stretching the person&#39;&#39;s skin during the massage.

United States Patent [191 Andis, Sr.

mi 3,850,163 [451 Nov. 26, 1974 STRIDE AND KNEAD MASSAGER [76] Inventor: Mathew Andis, Sr., 120 S.

Vincennes Cir., Racine, Wis. 53402 [22] Filed: May 23, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 362,999

[52] US. Cl. 128/57 [51] Int. Cl A61h 15/00 [58] Field of Search l28/24.3, 24.4, 57, 67

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,103,669 7/1914 Gibbs 128/57 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 177,513 2/1954 Austria 128/57 16,954 7/1881 Sweden 128/57 Primary Exarriiner-eLawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or Firm Wheeler, Morsell, House & Fuller [5 7 ABSTRACT A pair of axially spaced kneading wheels are rotatably attached to one end of a frame which has a handle projecting from its other end. Each of the kneading wheels has a plurality of semi-spherically shaped kneading projections thereon which are spaced far enough apart from each other to avoid stretching a persons skin when the kneading wheels stride over a portion of the persons skin to massage the tissues below the skin. The kneading wheels are also axially.

spaced far enough apart from each other on the frame to avoid stretching the persons skin during the massage.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 STRIDE AND KNEAD MASSAGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION cumferentially spaced kneading projections which depress a portion of a persons skin to massage the tissues below the skin. But in these prior art massaging devices, the kneading projections are spaced closely enough together to cause a stretching of the persons skin as the kneading projections are rolled over the skin. This stretching of the skin produces loose skin and early wrinkles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of this invention is to provide a massaging device which will knead the tissues underlying a persons skin with a minimal stretching of the skin and which is particularly suited for relaxing muscle spasms.

Another object of this invention is to provide a massaging device of the above-noted character which is simple and sturdy in structure and long wearing in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a massaging device of the above noted character which is relatively inexpensive in cost.

In accordance with this invention, the above-noted objects are attained by providing a massaging device having at least one kneading wheel with a plurality of semi-spherical kneading projections thereon that are circumferentially spaced far enough apart from each other to prevent stretching of a persons skin when the kneading projections stride over the skin. Preferably, the massaging device has two such kneading wheels which are axially spaced far enough apart from each other to prevent stretching of a persons skin during the massage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of one illustrative embodiment of the invention with a portion thereof cut away to reveal interior details.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable thoseskilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of kneading wheels are rotatably attached within corresponding recesses 12 in one end of a frame 14 which has an integrally formed handle 16 projecting from its other end. The frame 14 and handle 16 can be of plastic and the kneading wheels 10 can be made of molded nylon, al-

though it should be understood that other materials could be used if desired. The kneading wheels 10 are skeletonized to make them light in weight. The kneading wheels 10 are rotatably attached to frame 14 by metal pins 18 which pass through a central bore 19 in a hub 21 of kneading wheels 10 and through openings in side arms 20 and 22 of frame 14 which form a yoke for rotatably receiving the wheels 10. The pins 18 are press fitted into the openings in side arms 20 and 22.

Each of the wheels 10 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced kneading projections 24 thereon which are semi-spherical in shape. In accordance with this invention, it has been found that semi-spherically shaped kneading projections are most effective in massaging the tissues beneath the skin without stretching the skin. In a practical embodiment which was tested, the semispherical surface 23 of kneading projections 24 has a radius of curvature of 0.213 inches and each of the pro jections 24 has a width A at its base which is equal to 0.550 inches. A cylindrical margin 25 of about one thirty-second inch merges with surface 23 and eliminates a sharp uncomfortable edge which otherwise would be present at the edges of the curved surface 23. It has been found that these dimensions provide particularly effective kneading projections.

The projections 24 are located on the outer edge 27 of a disc portion 29 which extends from the hub 21. Additional support for the projections 24 is afforded by radially extending ribs 31 on each of the disc portions 29. Thus effective support is provided for the projections 24 with a minimum use of material while reducing cost and weight.

The kneading projections are circumferentially spaced far enough apart from each other to avoid stretching a persons skin when the kneading wheels 10 stride over the persons skin with enough force applied thereto to massage the tissues under the skin. The exact amount of spacing required to meet this condition depends in part on the dimensions of the kneading projections 24 and the radius of the kneading wheels 10. With kneading projections 24 having the above-noted dimensions, and with kneading wheels 10 having an outer radius of 1.00 inch, it has been found that an angular separation of 60 (FIG. 3) between the centers of the kneading projections 24 is adequate to avoid stretching of the skin during a massage. In addition, the separation provides a striding action over the skin without undesirable sliding friction contact.

The two kneading wheels 10 are axially spaced apart from each other by a distance C which is large enough to prevent stretching of the skin between the two wheels 10 and to straddle a muscle. The distance C between kneading wheels 10 is also selected to give the most effective massaging of the tissues underlying the skin.

The massage device of this invention is utilized by grasping the handle 16 and running the kneading wheels 10 over the area of the body which is to be massaged. This may be done by the person who is being massaged or by another person. In either case, the kneading projections 24 sink into the skin as they stride across the massaged area and effectively massage the underlying tissues without stretching the skin between the projections and only at the points of contact of the kneading projections. Since the two kneading wheels 10 are independently rotatable, there is a natural differential action which occurs when the direction of striding is changed, and this natural differential action prevents dragging and stretching of the skin when the direction of the massaging stroke is changed.

What is claimed is:

l. A manual massaging device including two independently movable kneading wheels with circumferentially spaced kneading projections having centers angularly separated by 60, said kneading rollers including semi-spherical tip portions.

2. In a manual massaging device having at least one kneading wheel with circumferentially spaced kneading projections thereon, the improvement wherein said kneading projections have a semi-spherical tip portion and wherein the centers of said kneading projections are angularly separated from each other by at least 60 and the outer radius of said kneading wheel is 1 inch.

3. The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein the radius of curvature of each kneading projection is equal to 0.3 i2 inches and the width of each kneading projection at its base is equal to 0.550 inches.

4. The improvement defined in claim 2 and further comprising a second kneading wheel as defined therein, the two kneading wheels being axially spaced far enough apart from each other to avoid stretching the skin of a person massaged thereby.

5. A manual massaging device comprising a frame, a pair of spaced apart recesses in one end of the frame and a handle projecting-from the other end of the frame, a pair of kneading wheels rotatably attached to said frame within said recesses, each of said kneading wheels having circumferentially spaced kneading projections thereon, and said kneading projections being spaced far enough apart from each other in both the circumferential and axial dimension to avoid stretching the skin of a person massaged thereby.

6. A massaging device as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said kneading projections is semi-spherical in tween said kneading projections and said hub. 

1. A manual massaging device including two independently movable kneading wheels with circumferentially spaced kneading projections having centers angularly separated by 60*, said kneading rollers including semi-spherical tip portions.
 2. In a manual massaging device having at least one kneading wheel with circumferentially spaced kneading projections thereon, the improvement wherein said kneading projections have a semi-spherical tip portion and wherein the centers of said kneading projections are angularly separated from each other by at least 60* and the outer radius of said kneading wheel is 1 inch.
 3. The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein the radius of curvature of each kneading projection is equal to 0.312 inches and the width of each kneading projection at its base is equal to 0.550 inches.
 4. The improvement defined in claim 2 and further comprising a second kneading wheel as defined therein, the two kneading wheels being axially spaced far enough apart from each other to avoid stretching the skin of a person massaged thereby.
 5. A manual massaging device comprising a frame, a pair of spaced apart recesses in one end of the frame and a handle projecting from the other end of the frame, a pair of kneading wheels rotatably attached to said frame within said recesses, each of said kneading wheels having circumferentially spaced kneading projections thereon, and said kneading projections being spaced far enough apart from each other in both the circumferential and axial dimension to avoid stretching the skin of a person massaged thereby.
 6. A massaging device as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said kneading projections is semi-spherical in shape.
 7. A massaging device in accordance with claim 5 in which each of said kneading wheels has a hub, a disc portion extending from the hub, kneading and radially extending ribs on the sides of said disc and extending between said kneading projections and said hub. 